Hippuris montana
Hippuris vulgaris
mountain mare's-tail
common mare's-tail, hippuride vulgaire, mare's tail
1 mm diam.
(2–)3–5 mm diam.
15–100 mm.
100–400 mm.
on mid portions of emergent shoots in whorls of 5–7, linear, 2–10 × 0.2–0.5 mm, midvein often conspicuous, lateral veins absent, apex acute, tip translucent, callous, not curled in dried plants.
on mid portions of emergent shoots in whorls of (7 or)8 or 9(–12), linear to narrowly oblong or lanceolate, 3–35 × 0.5–2.5 mm, midvein inconspicuous, lateral veins present, sometimes obscure, apex subacute to acute or attenuate, tip often curled in dried plants.
unisexual, staminate in leaf whorls proximal to pistillate;
filaments longer than anthers.
bisexual;
filaments longer than anthers.
1.2 × 1 mm.
1.5–2 × 0.8–1 mm.
= 16.
= 32.
Hippuris montana
Hippuris vulgaris
Hippuris montana differs from other species of Hippuris by its diminutive size and the tendency for the plants to be woven into the moss carpet; it is probably often overlooked by collectors.
The single occurrence reported by N. N. Tzvelev (1980) in the Russian Far East (lower Amur River) of an otherwise North American endemic has not been confirmed.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Hippuris vulgaris is the most common and widespread species of Hippuris; it is largely absent from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Greenland. All specimens seen by the authors from that region are H. lanceolata.
The distribution of Hippuris vulgaris is bipolar, occurring also in southern South America (Patagonia: Argentina and Chile) and Australia; it exists in some areas as a naturalized introduction, possibly from being used in aquaria and ornamental pools. In Australia, H. vulgaris is monitored for its potential to become noxious by spreading rapidly in shallow waterways.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
IL Wildflowers, 
MI Flora, 
MN Wildflowers, 
PNW Herbaria, 
SW CO Wildflowers 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
